Movie Review: The Hunger Games

There was no hunger in The Hunger Games, but it’s still worth the wait.

Non-spoiler Synopsis

Panem, a world built on top of former North America, is governed by The Capitol. Its governance easily translates to tyranny. With the oppression of the 13 districts, District 13 led a rebellion aiming to overthrow the seat of power. The rebellion failed.

Thus, District 13 was incinerated and the Hunger Games was put into play.

Every year, two randomly selected tributes, a boy and a girl from each district, are shoved off into the televised Hunger Games. With the brutality of the games, the districts have become divided, and unwilling to ignite another rebellion despite the Capitol’s blatant injustice.

Praying not to be chosen as tribute, Katniss Everdeen of District 12 took on the job of bringing food on their table despite her young age, right after her father died in a mine accident. Her mom spent the days wallowing in grief, bereaving the death of her husband. Her younger sister, Prim, starving, Katniss had no choice but to be the head of the family.

The 74^th Hunger Games changed everything as Prim’s name, against all odds, was unfavorably handpicked as one of District 12’s tributes, Katniss had to volunteer, pitting herself against 23 other tributes who will fight to the death since the Games allowed only one sole survivor, the victor.

The Hunger

The Hunger Games movie is good, not great, certainly not epic, but it’s worth the wait. In spite of this, I can’t shake off the feeling that it lacked the plot’s backbone—hunger. I’ve read the book, but after years of watching epic chapters being truncated to 2 hours of footage, I’ve been reasonable with my expectations on paper-to-screen transitions and I highly hoped, with the movie title having “Hunger” on it, that the film would not fall short in depicting the cause, the purpose, and the mechanism that Suzanne Collins has driven the book on. Though the movie did show the lavish lifestyle of the Capitol, and is still a satisfying visit to the cinema, it failed to reflect the famine experienced by its protagonist which is her motivation to survive.

SPOILER ALERT!

The Cons

The Lack of Hunger or the Oppression:

-          Gale gives a bread to Katniss. Katniss did show a lot of interest on the bread that Gale gave her, this was very good but it’s like a picture frame without a stand because the rest of the film did not support this scene. Add Katniss’s flashback of Peeta throwing bread to her, and it made bread as if it’s the most luxurious food in District 12.

-          Katniss and Peeta’s appetite. In the film, Katniss and Peeta ate like they were used to food, pampered with their poise and manners despite the abundance of food, when they were supposedly trying to stop their selves from using their hands to devour every edible and succulent dish in sight.

Other film insufficiencies and unfaithful transitions:

-          Madge is nonexistent. This is very forgivable though Madge’s inclusion in the Hunger Games as a possible tribute is chained to the fact that even the District Mayor’s daughter isn’t exempted from the Hunger Games.

-          No goosebumps when Katniss volunteered. Maybe the lack of background music, the camera angle, or the framing of the scene failed to trigger a sigh. This scene felt rushed.

-          The Avoxes. This is also forgivable. Avoxes are people considered as traitors by the Capitol who are enslaved and whose tongues were cut. They are a living proof of the Capitol’s brand of justice. In the film, they're the ones wearing red either standing in a corner or waiting on the Tributes and their posse.

-          No bread from District 11 after Rue died. This was the first sign of hope for a unity between the districts so I felt that it was crucial point. Though the film brought us a glimpse of book two, Catching Fire, to substitute this scene. It lacked the message that the crisp bread delivered, the appreciation of District 11.

-          No hardship before finding a source of water. This showed Katniss’s ability as a hunter, that she can survive in the woods. I understand that the film had to trim this down, but it failed to compromise this cut by showing her survivor skills except for tree-climbing and her shooting.

-          There were notes from Haymitch. Katniss’s brilliance includes how she worked out a system of communicating with Haymitch, their mentor, through the receipt, and non-receipt, of gifts. Since this all went through her head, and the Games were televised, they can’t have Katniss speaking her mind so I guess the notes were the way to go.

-          Katniss did not say, “Let the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games begin Cato. Let them begin for real”. Katniss did not say it in the book but this would’ve been a good dialogue, as a definite and defiant sign that Katniss and Rue was taking the offense.

-          Seneca Crane was influenced by Haymitch, The scene where Haymitch advised Seneca to milk the romance between Peeta and Katniss made it seem like Haymitch had an indirect hand in Seneca’s death. This scene never happened in the book.

-          Clove died without a dent on her skull. Completely forgivable, but definitely one of the things I was looking forward to.

-          The Muttations weren’t emphasized that they looked like fallen tributes. Also forgivable, the film did still expound the Capitol’s iron hand. I only included this because it depicts how ruthless and inhumane the Hunger Games can be.

-          The parting of Peeta and Katniss was too bland. It was a very emotional moment for Peeta, finding out that Katniss had to pretend during the Games and trying to compute how much of her kisses were make-believe.

The Pros

As I’ve said, I still enjoyed the film. Films inspired by books can’t remain faithful to every detail and still produce a reasonable movie-length. But this is how the creativity, intelligent workarounds and strategic displacement of book elements, of film makers is tested.

-          Casting. First off is casting, I think casting was perfect especially for Haymitch. Perfect portrayal for Cinna. Followed by Katniss, Rue and Effie. Gale was a good choice and Peeta, though I still feel that Josh Hutcherson’s height compared to Jennifer Lawrence’s should’ve been considered, but I did not feel this was of great importance when watching the film. Cato was perfect. Okay, a bit biased but to be fair, his acting was fluid when he was on the Cornucopia and about to kill Peeta.

-          Capitol People. Aside from the breathtaking, Star Wars-like, design of The Capitol, its people were exactly how the book described them.

-          The Chariot scene. It could’ve been improved but it was enough. Though there was no Cinna suggesting to hold hands, symbolizing an alliance, I have no misgivings on this scene, Katniss is still the girl on fire.

-          Haymitch’s anger. Haymitch was angry while watching a Capitol kid pretending to attack her sister with a sword. The use of the kid playing around suggests the immensity that the Capitol do not see the tributes as people anymore and that they have lived with The Hunger Games for too long to care what it does to the tributes, their families and their districts.

-          Rue’s death. Rue’s death was epic, in terms of its tear-jerking capability. It triggered the same emotion in the film as it did in the book. Amandla Stenberg’s acting was notable.

-          One-on-ones of gamemaker, Seneca Crane, and Capitol leader, President Snow. The film interjected scenes where Seneca Crane was speaking with President Snow. Though this was an obvious way to compromise the transition of book to film, used as an excuse to tell the tale of implied concepts, these scenes were well-placed and well-made exhibiting a good use of foreshadowing.

-          Peeta is not a loser. The book made it seem as if Peeta is helpless and useless in hand-to-hand combat. Setting aside his strength of throwing a bag of flour, he never really used it to prove his strength in a fight. But during the fight scene with Cato, the film supported Peeta’s character in general, as a person who will fight and can fight when needed.

-          Overrated romance. The film did not include the ridiculous part where Katniss was too in love with Peeta in the interview with Caesar Flickerman, which I think is out of character despite her quandary when I was reading the book.

-          The suggestive part two. We all know that The Hunger Games is a trilogy and the film ended with an implication of something bigger is coming.

All in all, it is as expected that the film will not suffice the thirst of the story’s readers. However this may be, we always need to remind ourselves that we are an audience when we enter the theater, not a reader. I’m not saying that this is a hopeless and given case for book-to-film transitions, there’re still film makers who can surprise readers.

It is a good film. We should always be generous with our praises as much as we are with our critiques, that the experience was an exciting watch. But we cannot deny the decrepit backbone in portraying the hunger experienced by the districts, a healthy underpinning would’ve made an audience, who hasn’t read the book, easily understand where Katniss is coming from—a life of struggle, of poverty, of hunger. They should learn this from the film and not from their friend who read the book.

After all, Katniss, and the rest of the districts, has lived with a voracious appetite not only for food, but also for justice.

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The Fairytale Reviews, Part 1

It’s difficult not to revisit my childhood with two fairytale remakes released consecutively, Red Riding Hood and Beastly. The predisposed challenge for any remake is to innovate while preserving the core of a well-loved classic. 

I’m not a necromancer of classics such as directors, authors, recording artists and the like, but as a viewer, the core, the essence of a classic is a volatile material to which no definite effective method of tampering can be formulated.

There are those who would only dare to graze its surface by retelling or re-mastering, which could mean the audience applauding out of satisfying nostalgia or groping for the purpose as to why bother remaking if there’s nothing new.

In similar sense, those who are bold and courageous enough to paint over a Mona Lisa may receive the ridicule of purists or praises from nonpurists for such audacity. Either way, attempting a remake means painstakingly trudging on precarious ground.

Though there are numerous titles to discuss, my focus would be Ever After, Red Riding Hood and Beastly. It is inevitable to compare the three yet one should be aware that each film’s premise and execution is sufficiently distinguishable.


Ever After

Ever After is a retelling of the famous Cinderella story. Its storyline is built on what the film claims as the true story behind the well-known bedtime story of rags to riches. The movie was released in 1998 and starred by no less than Drew Barrymore.

It starts with the Grimm brothers, writers of most of the fairytales we grew up with, as royal guests of the Queen of France. With the success of their ‘once-upon-a-times’, the Grimm brothers become privy to the existence of the most indispensable item in the story, the glass slipper, as evidence of the life led by Nicole D’Barbarac, note that the last syllable of her last name is spoken as if there’s a fish bone stuck at the back of your throat—which you should not attempt if you have a sore throat.

The story is set in France during a time of castles, horses, and forced marriage between kingdoms, which is wholly similar with the fairytale’s setting. Such attribute and the removal of a fairy godmother, a fashionable gown with a 12 midnight curfew and a sweet pumpkin ride gives Cinderalla a sense of reality, and more of a historical approach.

Perhaps the more appropriate term to use is ‘substitution’ and not ‘removal’ of various elements which nonchalantly reminds us of Cinderella. For example, the mice friends of Cinderella were servants in the film, the fairy godmother is, surprisingly, the genius Leonardo Da Vinci, and the gown with a curfew is merely a metaphor.

These substitutions are minimal and most of the essentials of Cinderella remain intact and untouched. Which I believe is done on purpose, to leave a message that ‘happily ever after’ is not found in fairytales but drawn from anonymous reality. 


Movie poster from http://www.imdb.com

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A Gay Kid in the 90s

Seeing a gay kid pretend he isn’t gay amusingly reminds me of my own childhood. Not that I celebrate in someone else’s misery but it’s just nostalgic. I also tried to deny the irrevocable truth, so I understand how difficult it is. And it took quite a long time before I hit my head and realized I was fighting a losing battle. But I was in denial not merely for the sake of conformity but for fear of the unknown. Back then, I had no idea what it meant to be gay. But I do know what I enjoyed.

Volleyball. Surprisingly, basketball was my first sport. I remember enjoying the feeling of getting the ball through the hoop, until I played with three other kids—a 2-on-2 game. While people would think gays enjoy basketball because you get the ‘chance’ to brush up on a baller’s.. well.. physique, that's not the case for me, honestly (cue scowls and doubts ‘weh ‘di nga?!?). I didn’t like it because of the sweat. Your shirtless opponent is practically drying himself on your shirt. I felt like a towel, and remember going straight to the shower after that game. I was an idiot for not knowing what ‘contact’ sport means. And I remember having the ring stripped down from the coconut tree—permanently. So I shifted to Volleyball, which is less of a contact sport than Basketball.

The Unicorn Club. It was around the same time when bikes and rollerblades were popular in our village when I became a member of the Unicorn Club. I never had rollerblades, but I did own a red bike (yes red, not pink). And we would sort of patrol the village, all members of the said club, in single file. Most readers around early twenties, would know or have read the Sweet Valley High (SVH) series by Francine Pascal. The twins, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield of SVH, are members of The Unicorn Club and we decided to bring it out of the book’s pages. Each of us also owned a Coca-Cola card signifying our membership.

This is exactly the star shaped
Polly Pocket I used to borrow

Polly Pocket. Barbie is a staple toy for most girls. I never shared the fanaticism. I liked Ken more. But I never played with a Ken, maybe because my ‘gaydar’ was already up and running in its early stages. Ken is so gay. I mean, no straight guy would have such a collection of outrageous clothes, not to mention his freaking hairdo. I played Polly Pocket instead. I go to a friend’s house every afternoon to play with her Polly Pockets. She has enough to share. Not that I can’t buy one, but I didn’t dare ask, come on (what a scene that would be?!). She would always lend me her star-shaped Polly Pocket, then we would set up other Polly Pockets with our other friends, usually her cousin and another neighbor. And tada we have a Polly Pocket village. But don't get me wrong, my favorite toy would still be, forevermore, Lego.

Ten-Twenty and Chinese Garter. I excelled in the Tinikling stage of Ten-Twenty, and occasional winner in Chinese Garter. Every girl my age would own a garter, looped and ready for street garter action. Yes, I also had one, but I rarely use it. My garter was a backup. Sure I also played other street games like Agawan Base, Tag, or Bente-Uno, which is a modified version of Tag, I was a favorite teammate for Patintero, and the famous Langit-Lupa (I still remember the lyrics to its chant). But nothing beats playing Ten-Twenty because it gives you a sense of completion when you reach the latter stages—that only the best of the best competes in (ehem!).

From Left to Right. Sporty Spice, Ginger Spice, Posh Spice, Baby Spice and Scary Spice 

The Spice Girls. The Spice Up Your Life album is my first album purchase. CDs were still considered high end then, but was gaining popularity fast, and cassette tapes were standard. I still remember the dance steps to Stop’s chorus, and I know I’m not alone in this. My favorite Spice Girls song is Wannabe, next is Mama, Viva Forever, Goodbye My Friend, and the carrier single Spice Up Your Life. I think I’ve spilled enough to depict how devastated I was when the group split up. Still, we had Steps and their boot scootin’ songs to dance to, and eventually the boy bands and Britney Spears.

Mara Clara. Who doesn’t know Mara and Clara? I believe Mara Clara is the prototype of most Philippine drama series. Judy Ann Santos played Mara who is the ultimate protagonist in the Filipino sense, Mara has no bad side and angelic in every way. Gladys Reyes’ portrayal of the ultimate antagonist Clara, is commendable. I really hated her before. Mara Clara can be summed up with, ‘Ang bida mabait, ang kontrabida masama’ (The protagonist is good, the antagonist is evil), period. Then, Marimar led the Mexican invasion of Philippine TV.

Sailormoon. Yes I am Sailor Mars, Rei in the famous animation that every girl and gay kid loved at the time. It aired in ABC5 and I remember hurrying home to catch each episode. And yes I had a short crush on Tuxedo Mask, Mamuro. Well, there’s no other guy in the series, except for the other Alibaba-inspired version of Tuxedo Mask.  I forgot who he is or if he is also Mamuro in a different costume. Anyway, I stopped watching the series after Sailor Jupiter joined. If anything else, Sailormoon did inspire me to study the Milky Way Galaxy in Science class (not my best subject).

The Bullying. Most, if not all, gay kids would’ve experienced bullying at some degree. I was asked, “What are you?” numerous times, and, like a moron, I answered 'kalahati' (half-boy, half-girl) to others' enjoyment. With mature hindsight, laughing at my own idiocy, I realized how much of a laughingstock I made myself of. Regardless, I do remember how the perception affected me. I was always guarded, scared to let anyone get too close enough to inflict serious damage to my self-esteem. But I took it all in positively. I was the gay kid determined to prove himself in everything he does, mainly to avoid ridicule, and eventually to gain respect.

Being a gay kid is usually tougher than being a typical boy or girl. I do not mean to minimize the struggles of others, but any bullying in childhood, can make or break any kid. So that goes for all. And let’s not mention puberty..(whew!)

But all I’m saying is, gay kids are usually easy targets, maybe because of our awkwardness in trying to reconcile the two sides of our persona, and when bullies try to reconcile two sides of their persona; what society thinks as acceptable and what they personally believe as acceptable.


I think I'm going to listen to Spice Up Your Life now. 

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Top Ten Funny Behavior in Facebook (of Pinoys) part 2

By Edge and Larra

If you don’t have a Facebook (FB) account then you are a) living under a rock, b) at an advanced age, c) stuck in the Friendster era, or worse, d) dead. You would probably know someone, or have committed these funny acts in FB yourself, writers not exempted (We are as guilty as everyone is). This article is not accurate, so don’t berate us with statistics because we didn’t even bother with the word (Not to mention the college subject necessary for our theses!). Anyway here’s our top ten funny behavior of (Pinoy) Facebook users (based on fabricated statistics of how many people do it):

Please note: If you find yourself among these, it doen’t mean you have to change, but if you’re a real nuisance, then please do. Haha! Peace! ^^

The Top 5

Top 5. The ‘Social activist’ (Superliker)

The act of liking or joining each and every group that pops up. Despite not having a serious purpose aside from laughing at the idea of the group’s existence, these ‘activists’ still continue to join groups that would last for about a week, give or take, then dwindle into oblivion. And getting in on a funny trend is as easy as a click away, this act becomes addictive. If you have a Social activist friend, which I’m sure you do, or you’re one yourself, then they, or you, may also want to start a new online group support, Clickaholics Anonymous.

Top 4. The ‘Facebook Varsity’ (Who’s da playa?!?)

The act of playing every other game that Facebook offers, from the most popular Farmville to the mini-games in existence. If only FB digital money, like the zenies of Ragnarok Online and other serious MMORPGs, are convertible to cash, or channel the time spent playing to a more productive activity, the Facebook Varsity would be well-off. Though the causative factor of this behavior is to relieve stress, they end up more stressed by getting more digital money or improving their stats or levels in their respective games (I know this first-hand, back in RO’s beta days in Chaos). This is when they send lesser or non-players endlessly annoying invites.

Top 3 The ‘Evil Tagger’ (‘Ganda/Gwapo mo kasi sa pic ‘eh)

The act of tagging someone in a photo where he or she looks like living hell while the tagger’s shot is heaven-sent. The motivation of the tagger is one of pure evil. Don’t you just hate it when your most hideous form, or your highest level of atrocity (if you’re not always monstrous) somehow makes its way to be displayed publicly for the entertainment of netizens here and abroad?

The worst evil tagger you could find would be one of the closest persons in your life. Your parents are not excluded. Those who have access to your humiliating childhood pictures and have the ability to scan and upload them can destroy your online life. Those who are blessed with a fast-hand with a ready digicam during nights out gains leverage over you. Stop thinking about paparazzis or the Pinoy TMZ because you’re not a celebrity; but think friends, close friends, and best friends.

But seriously, these embarrassing photos can deter potential employers if you do not act fast to untag yourself. Facebook is the fastest and convenient way for recruiters to know more about their applicants. Evil-taggers should know that this act has serious repercussions. It’s a matter of making your profile or album private, but not to the point of nonexistence.

Another known behavior of this creature, is tagging you in a photo where you’re not there at all. The purpose is either to sell you something or torture you for missing a very happy event.

Everyone is a target for the evil-tagger and anyone can be an evil-tagger.

Top 2. The Wall Poster (‘di ko gets?!?)

The act of irrational conversation on a certain wall post instead of opening a chatroom. Though it is easier and more convenient to chat, or open a conference if there are more than two chatters, the Wall Poster tends to publicize the exchange by commenting, extensively. This is a widely popular behavior for FB users.

In the defense of Wall Posters, being wall posters ourselves, commenting on wall posts compared to a chatroom proves to have longer shelf life. At any time the exchange can be easily revived with just another comment.

The annoying but also funny version is finding a certain wall post as a coffee shop by friends who’re catching up, using your wall post as chatroom while discussing something completely unrelated.

Top 1. Your status, your like, your comment.

Enough Said. (eh ‘yung iPPM ka para magpalike ng status?!)

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Top Ten Funny Behavior in Facebook (of Pinoys) part 1

By Edge and Larra

If you don’t have a Facebook (FB) account then you are a) living under a rock, b) at an advanced age, c) stuck in the Friendster era, or worse, d) dead. You would probably know someone, or have committed these funny acts in FB yourself, writers not exempted (We are as guilty as everyone is). This article is not accurate, so don’t berate us with statistics because we didn’t even bother with the word (Not to mention the college subject necessary for our theses!). Anyway here’s our top ten funny behavior of (Pinoy) Facebook users (based on fabricated statistics of how many people do it):

Please note: If you find yourself among these, it doesn’t mean you have to change, but if you’re a real nuisance, then please do. Haha! Peace! ^^

The Top 6

Top 10. The ‘Celebrity’ (Feeling Artista)

The act of creating more than one account, an act originating from the medieval periods of Friendster, wherein a person’s account reaches its limit of having a number of friends. Ideally, this is attributed to popularity and congeniality. But the reality is, once they create a new one, you’re illogically added to that other account, regardless of being a friend in his or her first account, until it reaches its delusional maximum again, eventually creating another excuse to create a third account. The more accounts there are, the more delusional that person is.

Top 9. The ‘Love Team’ (Lakas Maka-Issue)

The act of repeatedly changing one’s relationship status from Single to In a Relationship, to the more controversial and usually comment-hoarding statuses: It’s Complicated and Married. The ideal use is to describe one’s actual relationship status. But those who have real problems would either hide the fact that their relationship is teetering rather than publicize their intimate dilemmas. However there are those who, out of honest sweetness or plain ‘cheesiness, and love of drama, commit the act to the point of nausea. If you don’t do it for fame, then you’re not under this bracket.

Those who exhibit the worst version of this behavior, who should seriously seek psychiatric help, would create a ‘boyfriend/girlfriend’ profile. And yes, they do exist. You can easily catch the perpetrators of this worrisome behavior by checking the profile of their so-called partner. The most telling attribute would be having just one friend in their friends box. Who doesn’t have friends other than your boyfriend/girlfriend?

Top 8. The ‘Blocker’ (Sana hindi mo na lang in-add)

The act of blocking one’s account from a friend.

We could not fathom, or would even want to, what kind of reasoning these people have. If you have a friend that has their account blocked from you, then by all means remove them from your friends list, and if you can, from your life.

And if you are guilty of this act, come on, what’s up? If you’re just going to block someone, better remove him from your friends or don’t approve in the first place.

There are also those, although rare but not extinct, who would scour FB for your account to block you without adding you up. These are people who have serious misgivings against you. It either means you’re a stalker of some sort, or they feel that you’ll miss one-half of your life because you won’t know what’s going on in their life (as if they have one.. taking the extra mile just to block you already means they don’t have one).

Top 7. The ‘Starbucks drinker’ (‘Kaw na may Starbucks!)

The act of treating a Starbucks coffee cup as if it’s a souvenir from a trip to Disneyland. Starbucks is a status symbol—before. It’s too common to be descriptive of someone’s economic ranking today. We would avoid dwelling on the status symbol thing, since another circular convoluted discussion could erupt. Let’s not be too serious people, cheer up.

This is practically a must-have in the FB world, if you check the profile photos of your friends; they would probably have a Starbucks photo in their arsenal. It’s not annoying or funny by itself, but communally, it’s a humorous act, like a certain quirk that Pinoy FB users commit rampantly. I bet you have one too (We know we do ^^)

Top 6. The ‘Telenovela character’ (Bida siya lagi)

The act of changing one’s profile picture, like some camera reel, or status, like a subtitle from a Koreanovela, within minutes of each other. Their profile pictures change usually from emotional, artistic shots to jovial, perky captures. But do not underestimate their photography skills, these people have perfected the art of self-photography (yes even DLSRs with lenses!)

They accompany this visual talent with exemplary writing skill, overcoming the famed writer’s block. Without this handicap, they are better than most writers because their writing prowess is withdrawn with a snap of a finger. They usually write in vague, metaphorical quotes, delivered via textspeak or the seemingly alien form of language, ‘Jejenese’. 

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The UAAP Finals Experience and Why You Shouldn’t Miss It

Five years is long enough. The FEU Tamaraws have been starving to tear the gold away from Ateneo’s clawed grasp, and they just came too close last year. Almost tasting the succulent but elusive crown, practically salivating, the Morayta cagers are far too famished not to give everything they’ve got, and more.

I was a freshman when the former King Tamaraw, Arwind Santos, led FEU to its 19^th title. Like any geeky freshman, my singular goal was to finish my first sem with flying colors. I had no interest in school organizations, even FEU Advocate, and much less interest in UAAP’s basketball. I did care about volleyball though, I was an avid Shakey’s V League fan and it was a post-Michelle Carolino season back then. Until a classmate, who has a future in sales, did a hard sell and got me to buy a ticket for Game 2 Finals against the De La Salle University’s Archers.

And it was a very exciting, exhilarating and, as I have learned eventually, elusive experience.

For some Tamaraws, they consider me lucky to experience a championship within my four-year stay in FEU. It’s like one of the checklists of being enrolled in a UAAP school, experience a championship year.

Since then, I have always wanted to go to Araneta and support my alma mater, but the realities of being a student nurse made Araneta a distant luxury. Blame me for being seemingly suicidal; I took the FEU Advocate exam, qualified, only to shave off more hours from a regular day. As I took the publication’s role seriously, perhaps more seriously than my own studies, I needed either a Saturday or a Sunday to rest and survive the coming week, pulling me further away from Araneta.

Classmates would have the idea that being in the publication meant required presence during the UAAP games. But I was not a Sports writer, I was under the Features section, which meant a handful of wanted, and unwanted, second-hand information from photographers and writers who cover games. I forgot who, but an Advocate batchmate (meaning we got in at the same time) once did a play-by-play account of a game. I blocked the words and an exceptional game analysis, from a fresh student journalist, not because I wasn’t interested but because the level of enthusiasm is intoxicating, and it was excruciating for me to listen when I wanted to be there myself.

Fast forward five years, and I found myself nostalgic of FEU’s Game 2 against La Salle. This time, I wasn’t in general admission (sounds like being admitted at the hospital), I was at the lowerbox beside another Advocate batchmate, a former Sports Editor, during the recent, controversial FEU vs. La Salle game.

And I took in everything that my senses fed me.

The Tamaraws’ territory has greatly improved we don’t just occupy gen ad to a gold-spotted lowerbox anymore. The horde has marked patron seating as part of their territory. Students wear their school colors with pride, and ‘just-in-case-FEU-loses-I-won’t-be-associated-with-the-school’ type of shirts are close to extinction.

Triggered by ugly game officiating (trying to control myself here), the Tamaraws were engaged in high-pitched verbal brawls against, well.. everyone else. My friend was acting like she’s not going to need her voice to answer calls later. She was standing and pointing to people on the court like she was the team coach. (I was ticked off by the officiating, not the La Salle's players per se)

As Cawaling was injudiciously sent off by an infuriating referee, my friend, and probably like other girls of our horde, acted like they were Cawaling’s girlfriend in anger. Others were screaming as if part of an activist movement, the picture only lacks placards and slogans with ‘Justice for Cawaling’.

As the horde erupted with contempt against a presumed orchestration of callouts, the team walking out after the first half, the Tamaraws still emerged victorious, crushing the Archers’ dream of making it to the Finals. Now, FEU is closer than ever to bringing the gold back where it might’ve, or should’ve, been since last year.

And we’re not going to miss it.

As early as the game’s conclusion, we already made arrangements on how to get our tickets for Game One. Two or three former Advocate staffers, and two current members, lined up for the tickets at FEU, reaching the end of the line only meant lining up again to buy another ticket until they had enough tickets for the number of people we hoarded to watch the game.  Eventually, the cashier got to know them, and wondered when they would stop lining up. They ended up making friends with the cashiers, which is a great achievement, I may say, since I’ve heard and experienced cashiers’ ire when doing transactions.

Like any telenovela, it is always a must to watch it until the end. We all expect a happy ending for the Tamaraws. Which is the same for other Tamaraw supporters who did not study in FEU at all, they are devotees by mere UAAP fanaticism. We are this year’s main protagonist, tayo ang bida, amidst a league of heroes.

UAAP is where heroes are made, but I guess for us Tamaraws, our heroes are made in Morayta, and UAAP is just one of their battlegrounds.

See you at the Coliseum! 

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Blog Theme Change: A Yuppie Blog

I’m going to change my blog theme from personal random thoughts to a young urban professional (yuppie) blog. Topics would be about the workplace, what to do during weekends and places to be.

I currently work as a call center agent, spending the weeknights  answering calls, resolving concerns, dealing with the hysterics of a working life (at night) and having fun with my workmates and supervisors.

During weekdays, I’m dead at times. By dead I mean lifeless, monotonous, bored and sleep-deprived. Despite this occasional zombie, the weekdays also mean responsible spending of daylight hours; getting enough sleep to avoid dozing off during work, budgeting your expenses until the next payday, and feeding your mind whichever way you feel neuron-nourishing.

The weekends, or day-offs, are a whole new source of experience, from the yuppie point of view. Never miss the chance to detoxify from the stress accumulated during the week, and this blog would include weekend activities you could look forward to.

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Hellcats, Another TV 'Cheeries' to Follow

Bring It On meets Glee, goes on a date, gets drunk and gives birth.

Most of you would know Bring It On as practically the most popular cheerleading movie ever released. If you’ve only seen the installments, then you haven’t seen anything yet. The first Bring It On covers most conflicts that cheerleaders experience amidst the combative atmosphere while performing with extreme optimism (nodding with wide-open smiles despite muscle contortion), which Hellcats’ pilot episode teasingly gives you a sample of.


Now, what’s the Glee part of the equation? It’s basically the transition from cinema to TV series, Glee is the ‘televisionification’ of the musicals which slowly regained popularity after being dead for about a decade or so. I guess we owe it to Disney’s High School Musical, acting as a necromancer for characters lunging into songs.
Another Glee characteristic is the pilot episode’s plot semblance. The Hellcats’ budget is threatened by a surge of budget for Lancer University’s, the setting, football program. This means cutting cheerleading scholarships which is why Marti(Alyson Mitchalka, Phil of the Future), a pre-law college student, desperate for a scholarship, tried out in the first place.


A few more factoids
-          Hellcats is based on American journalist Kate Torgovnick’s book, Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders.
-          Tom Welling, Clark Kent of Smallville, is one of its producers.
-          Ashley Tisdale, Sharpay Evans of the hugely popular High School Musical trilogy, plays Savannah Monroe who’s the captain of the Hellcats. As early as the second episode, I realize that her role here has more depth.
-          The series is expected to show more similarity to Election, a Witherspoon-starred 1999 film about how much ambition a student has, and to what extent she’ll go to just to get a student council position. Being a former campus journalist myself, this part I really understand. However, since I haven’t read the book, I am yet to see this comparison in the series.


What to like
-          Come on, who doesn’t enjoy watching cheerdance moves? The latest poverty of tickets to the UAAP Cheerdance Competition proves there’s an entire audience hungry for pyramids, tumbles and throws. Not to mention, short skirts, flips and tight-fitting outfits.
-          It’s funny. My favorite character so far is Marti’s mother, who somehow reminds me of Kristin Chenoweth’s character in Glee, April Rhodes. Maybe it’s just their stubbornness and idiosyncrasies that make me laugh.
-          A promising storyline. Brought by the book’s reviews, it is said to shed light to a myriad of difficulties that cheerleaders face. In a sport built around the concept of ‘cheers’ and ‘optimism’, the crowd wouldn’t, and shouldn't, have an inkling of what goes on before these athletes take the stage.


Unlike basketball drama, that regularly unfolds on the hardcourt, much like the recently concluded FEU vs. DLSU game, cheerleading has no hint of drama. Because if there is, then it defeats its purpose. And this series might just give you that hint.


HELLCATS is on ETC, Wednesdays at 8pm.
Here's the HELLCATS trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5b3rAxj8G8

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The Job Interview; What to Say

The mere prospect of being perused, face to face, by an interviewer, or even a panel, is daunting for most first time job applicants. Usually, it is not fear of the actual interview but fear of the unknown: What should I wear? What should I bring? What should I say? What should I expect?

A.      What should I wear?

B.      What should I bring?

C.      What should I say?

I’m not entirely sure if it’s necessary to say that jobseekers should have a mental pdf copy of their resumé.  You, as a jobseeker, should know every inch and crease of your advertisement, since the job interview will largely circulate with what’s on there. Can you imagine Miley Cyrus losing the lyrics of her own song, Party in the USA?

The items on your resumé are like categories for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, or other quiz shows, which have a set of pre-determined questions. The only difference is, you have no lifelines; no 50:50, no Ask the Audience, only Call a Friend (for your references).

These questions intend for you to expound and supplement the contents of your curriculum vitae (CV). These are questions triangulating on collegiate background; student organizations, academics and the likes, for fresh grads. Those with previous work experience would probably know and expect questions they’ve heard before, with one inquiry theme, ‘Why did you resign?’

And knowing what to expect is already half of the game; it may mean the difference between a definite yes and an indefinite, “we will call you if you passed”, no. As fresh grads, here are certain questions you’d probably encounter:

1.       Why should we hire you? Or what can you contribute to the company?

-          This is a beauty pageant question, this gives you the opportunity to shine. Bank on your skills and talents, however, trudge carefully so as not to go overboard. Give the interviewer sufficient evidence that you have a backbone, the necessary specific skills for a particular job.

But also capitalize on your capacity to learn and improve, brandishing your potentials is a good marketing strategy. Employers would want someone who’s not reluctant or too stubborn to learn anything new. An empty cup is easier to fill than a full one.

Just be honest with what you can do and what you can’t but you’re willing to improve on.

                        

                        Tricky version: Why SHOULDN’T we hire you? (Try answering this first on your own)

2.       Why did you choose (insert company name)?

-          This is highly individualized. But here are probable key points you would want to mention: company name, stability and track record; career growth and personal advancement; word of mouth recommendation, like a friend who already works in the company; proximity and convenience.

3.       How long do you plan to stay in this industry?

-          This is applicable, and only difficult, for those who are applying for jobs that’s not in line with their college program. The best and most famous example would be nurses and registered nurses applying at call centers. However, this is also relevant to those with previous traditional jobs applying for jobs way off of their radar: a manager applying as a Korean English Tutor, an engineer applying as a newspaper photographer.

The question is ambiguous. Though it asks for longevity on the job, its underlying pretext is to determine if you are a good investment or you’ll go running back to your specialization once you get the chance.

I can only effectively speak for nurses, as for the others, the best way is to just be honest and banner the reason why you’re not pursuing a job within your scope. First of all, there must have been a strong situation or basis for you to cast a rope far from your expected line of work.

As for my answer, I merely shared a true predicament, ‘It’s not practical to pursue a nursing career now’. Others would buy the advice to convince your interviewer that nursing was forced on you. And yes you could do that, though I’m pretty sure they’ve heard it a thousand times before. But as long as it’s true then go for it.

4.       How do you see yourself 5 to 10 years from now?

-          This is a test of ambition, a test of your drive and your life goals. An ambitious and driven employee is a more desirable part of a team. The best way to answer this is to say that you see yourself successful in 5 to 10 years. If it’s specific to the company, then mention a position or title you would want to get in the future.

The tricky question, ‘Why SHOULDN’T we hire you?’ aims for you to divulge your weaknesses. Remember that admitting your weak points is not weakness but a show of strength and wisdom. A wise man knows he does not know. But do not answer in a way which makes your flaws irreparable and debilitating that it would be idiocy to hire you.

By experience, my answer to that question was, “If you are looking for more experienced applicants, those with years of work experience, then you shouldn’t hire me.” You could go bold enough and answer, “There’s no reason for you not to hire me” but this would surely be a fork in the road. It’s either you come off as confident and trustworthy or an airhead who believes in himself too much.

On the day of your job interview, don’t forget your honesty and confidence. What you say in the entire interview should be summarized in four words, “I deserve the job”.

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